This happens in many forums.
I'll post a thread with the best intentions, then someone comes along and feels it is their duty to spew venom all over it.
This hasn't happened here yet, I'm new.
But, I've encountered pure nastiness in my forum experiences.
And, when I defend myself, I'm the one who is moderated!!
So, here, there, wherever you have people, you have problems.
Too many sticks in the mud, 'revving their engines", spouting off, or just plain being mean spirited.
Let's all just play nicely......

It is sad to see the conflict oriented perspective that seems to permeate society these days manifest itself here on ATS with such frequency. Not so
much the need to be right as to tell others they are wrong without offering viable alternatives or constructive criticism.

We can disagree without being disagreeable, and arrive at new conclusions that provide mutual enlightenment and help to move the group forward
together as a whole.

I agree with a lot of what has been said in this thread so far. But I think it is extremely important that we not allow those who wish to derail
positive discussions to succeed. There are always going to be people on here, and in the world, looking to pick a fight. Sometimes it is derived
from their passion for a given cause/subject and there is no ill-will intended. But other times it can be attributed to folks who are just generally
bad people with bad intentions.

The point is that we cannot let it distract us from the important issues that MUST be discussed if we are to succeed as a civilization. There are
always going to be people looking to rain on your parade. Giving up because of them is the worst thing one can do. In the end, the positive always
triumph over the negative and good always tops evil.

Do not allow a bunch of immature and prepubescent teens and hate mongers ruin what is otherwise an excellent online community. Let them spout their
rhetoric and get their rocks off by posting stupid comments. We can continue a peaceful and intelligent dialogue in spite of their existence- simply
because we must do so.

I also think that the problems we see right here on ATS with petty arguments and name-calling is no different than what we see coming from our elected
leaders. This kind of stuff is an impediment to progress and we must count on the minority who have the vision and the sense to move past such
"drama" and get the job done.

I spend more time on this board trying to defend my ideas (and my character) than actively discussing and debating them. I use this site for research
purposes, not to maintain I know it all- a concept that many members do not seem to understand.

As soon as you post something that is either speculative or objective you are labelled either a paranoid nut job or a disinfo agent!

It's laughable really. I'm losing heart with this site, it's starting to portray everthing it purports to be against.

I understand completely ( I think ) the viewpoint of the original poster. Rather than a festival of egos, I really come here to arrive at a synthesis
by weighing the pros and cons of various viewpoints.

If I bring up a contrary point, it doesn't mean I disagree with someone's argument, or them as a person, it means I'm trying on different ideas, to
see which is the best fit.

The problem is, a number of posters dismiss contrary input as "against" them or their world-view, and attack to score conversational points, rather
than arrive at a better understanding.

It's frustrating, all right.

Originally posted by Stewart Lewis

This competion to see who has the biggest organ is childish.

[edit on 8-2-2007 by Stewart Lewis]

It's me, by the way.
I've got the biggest one.

And there's nothing childish about it, other than it's prolific progeny.

Originally posted by uberarcanist
Better abject evil nastiness than a bunch of clones who agree with each other.

It would seem that we are a bunch of clones who are evil, nasty and bitter towards one another more often then not.

A drone mind of any kind is a horrible waste of limitless potential and intellect. Unfortunatly evil and nasty has become the norm; be aggressive
towards others and overly defensive if your cage is rattled.

Maybe one day we will mature as a collective world culture...but I have my doubts.

This is a problem that's prevalent on all Internet forums and specifically this one for several reasons that I can identify:

1. The nature of the topics being discussed. While it's nice to think that anybody who stumbles across this site would be open-minded and intelligent
enough to be able to discuss these topics without prejudice or bitterness; many of the more sensitive issues are fundamentally damaging to may
people's belief systems or conditioning, and so disagreement becomes venomous and acerbic as we try to defend our own perspective.

2. We are communicating in text and the written word is difficult to interpret in terms of tone, inflection and intent. Some people's posts may come
across as nasty or disrespectful when in fact the poster in question may simply have worded their argument badly or hurriedly. Try to consider that
some things that are written are not meant to sound as negative as they may do.

3. Ego drives all of us to differing extents and we all want our voices heard. Sometimes the only way to do that is to make a fuss and draw attention
to yourself through generating conflict. I've been posting here quite a while and I bet nobody has a clue who I am since I don't scream for
attention in any thread and hope that people will consider my contribution in context as part of a whole discussion, as I believe it should be.

The fact is that we are all here to educate ourselves and conflict is only ever counter-productive in any learning process. I think that there are
some truly wonderful people on this forum and it's important that their voices don't get lost amidst conflict.

Originally posted by Stewart Lewis
I read the threads here at ATS, and again and again important issues are bogged down to petty bickering. It reminds me of two rednecks reving up thier
engines to see who's is louder.

It is interesting that we call them threads. There is a Jewish parable about the cloth that covers the body; How when inquiring people often mistake
the garmet for the body it covers. I see this here.

Since discovering ATS for myself I have checked it daily, so I do think it is of value to people who want to know for themselves. This competion to
see who has the biggest organ is childish.

It is my opinion that this mindset is at the core of many of the problems we discuss.

[edit on 8-2-2007 by Stewart Lewis]

welcome to the real world mate, your going to have bickering where ever you go, i suggest you ignore it or join it. Difference with "debating" ones
side on the internet is it does not harm the person physicaly, maybe mentaly

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